Moving Forward With Better Earth
Better Earth is committed to providing you with the best solar installation experience. To proceed with a system or receive a detailed proposal for your home, simply contact us, and we will connect you with one of our experienced and knowledgeable consultants.
Ordering Your Solar System
To proceed with your new solar system, let's review some of the basic yet important details to help determine the optimal setup.
Understanding Your Usage and Sizing Your System
Understand Your Energy Needs:
We recommend that you take a moment to review your current energy usage and consider what your future energy usage may be. Whether you have people moving in or out, plan on electrifying your appliances, or upgrading an electric vehicle, your energy usage may change from what it is today.
Our goal is to design the perfect solar system to produce just the right amount of energy to meet your needs and even a bit extra when it makes sense.
For the most accurate information, we recommend getting the exact annual kilowatt hour (kWh) data directly from your utility provider.
Understand Optimal Panel Location:
Using your electrical usage data, we will build a custom solar proposal for your home, showing the location and number of panels needed to offset your electrical usage
Placing panels on South-facing roofs is generally recommended whenever possible for maximum efficiency. East and West facing roofs are the next most optimal, and North roofs can be viable in some but not all situations.
Sizing Your System:
It is recommended to size your system based on 100% of your previous year's usage. If possible, it is also beneficial to size a bit larger, with permission from your utility company, to accommodate any potential increase in usage in the future.
If you cannot fully cover your power needs with solar energy, even partial coverage can still provide benefits compared to relying solely on the utility company for all your power needs.
Choosing The Right Finance Option
Cash Purchase:
Pros: You own the system outright, take advantage of tax incentives, and enjoy long-term savings. The typical ROI is roughly 6-10 years.
Cons: Requires an upfront investment to purchase the system.
Solar Loan:
Pros: No upfront cost, you own the system, swap your electric payment for a solar payment, and still benefit from tax incentives.
Cons: Interest payments may add to the overall cost.
Solar Lease:
Pros: No upfront cost, maintenance & monitoring is included, and you have yearly production guarantees.
Cons: You don't own the system, may not qualify for tax incentives, and long-term savings might be lower.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA):
Pros: No upfront cost, you pay for the energy produced at a lower rate than the utilities rate, and maintenance, monitoring and production are all guaranteed.
Cons: You don't own the system, long-term costs may be higher, and savings are less predictable.
To determine the right finance option:
Consider your budget: If you have the means to pay upfront, a cash purchase may yield the most savings. If not, explore loan options.
Assess ownership preference: If owning the system is essential to you, a loan or cash purchase is your best choice.
Review your tax liability: With ownership options, cash & loan, you are eligible for the tax credit. If you do not have any tax liability, then you may not qualify for the tax credit and should consider a lease or PPA.
Analyze long-term savings: Compare the potential savings, incentives, and costs associated with each finance option to find the most economical solution.
Remember that the right finance option varies from person to person. It's crucial to consult with a solar provider and tax professional to discuss your specific circumstances and find the best fit for your solar project.
Tax Incentives
The Federal Incentive Tax Credit (ITC) is a 30% Federal tax Credit that is available for homeowners who invest into solar ownership (cash purchases & financing).
Better Earth and our representatives are not tax professionals. Therefore, if you have personal questions regarding the tax credit, please consult with your own tax professional.
Check out our Finance Options article to learn more about the tax credit.
The Signing Process
When moving forward with a solar system, a few key items must be submitted, signed, and completed to process your order:
Credit Application:
Unless you are purchasing the system outright with cash, a credit application is required for all other financing options. Most applications only perform a soft credit check and typically require a FICO score of 650 or higher.
Agreement Signing
Once approved, you will need to sign either a Financing Agreement, a Better Earth Installation Agreement, or both, depending on your project option.
Contract Verification
After signing the necessary agreements, you’ll need to complete a welcome call or project verification process to confirm your understanding of the project details.
Utility Bill Upload
A utility bill is required to get approvals from your utility company for system activation. You can either provide the bill to your sales representative or upload it directly to your Customer Portal.
Ideally, a PDF version is preferred, but if not available, a recent bill (within the last 6 months) with clear, full-page images will work, excluding any gas pages if applicable.
Can My Price Change After Deciding To Move Forward?
It's possible that your final price could change after placing your order, especially if there are significant changes or additional requirements identified during the site survey.
Here's what you should be aware of:
Site Survey Findings:
After you place your order, a site survey is conducted to assess your property and confirm the details needed for the installation.
During this survey, it's possible that unforeseen conditions or site-specific requirements may arise that were not apparent during the initial proposal stage, such as, required electrical upgrades or reroofs.
Change Order:
If the site survey identifies the need for any additional work, equipment, or modifications to ensure the effective installation of your solar system, you will be informed of these changes.
In such cases, you'll be required to authorize the changes by signing a "Change Order Form." This form outlines the modifications, associated costs, and the final adjusted price for your project.
Transparency:
Better Earth provides you with clear and transparent communication throughout this process. You will not be surprised by any additional costs after you approve your final design.
You will have the opportunity to make an informed decision and authorize any price adjustments before the work proceeds.
Customer Consent:
Your consent is required before any changes are made to your project. Be sure to communicate any personal preferences and concerns during this process.